Drive assembly for window regulators



April 29, 1969 ESKRA 3,440,892

DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR WINDOW REGULATORS Filed Oct. 24, 1967 Sheet of 4INVENTOR.

l RUDOLPH ESKRA AmKuE April 29, 1969 R, ESKRA 3,440,892

DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR WINDOW REGULATORS Filed Oct. 24. 1967 Sheet 2 of 4 d-Q m d 050 Na \m 02 YQ ifli 98 (\l 0) S2 0 LL m m 1 3 1 on m fix

INVENTOR. B Ruooum ESKRA P'TTORNEU April 29, 1969 R. ESKRA 3,440,892

DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR WINDOW REGULATORS Filed Oct. 24, 1967 Sheet of 4INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH ESKR A wym.

ATTOQ EV April 29, 1969 R. ESKRA 3,440,892

DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR WlNDOW REGULATORS Filed Oct. 24. 1967 Sheet 4 of 4INVENTOR. K RQDOLiH EsKRA ATV OWE? United States Patent Office 3,440,892Patented Apr. 29, 1969 York Filed Oct. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 677,671 Int.Cl. F16h 1/06 US. Cl. 74-8918 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flattype reversible electric motor and drive assembly in which the motordrives through gearing to a spring clutch assembly embodying a pinionfor actuating the window regulator mechanism in one direction or theother in response to the direction of rotation of the motor. The springclutch assembly prevents retrograde movement of the driven pinion whenthe motor is idle, thereby to retain the window in its adjustedposition. An adaptation provides a hang-on drive for regulators to fitthe usual handle stem of a manual regulator, a drive adaptor actuated bythe electric motor through gearing being designed to .fit the handlestem.

Summary Electric motor drives for window regulators have, in the main,been objectionable because of the space occupied in the vehicle body.One such drive employs a motor driven worm shaft and a wheel meshingtherewith, and an objection to this is based in the relatively lowefiiciency of the worm gear necessary to prevent retrograde movement ofthe window. This not infrequently presents problems, particularly instarting the drive from a window locked position.

According to this invention, a compact assembly is provided in which afiat type reversible electric motor is arranged in a relatively flathousing and drives through gearing disposed within the housing to aspring clutch assembly which embodies a pinion disposed on the outsideof the housing for engagement with the gear sector of the windowregulator mechanism. Thus, the electric motor, its gearing and drivenparts are completely housed in a relatively flat housing to provide aunit which can be readily and conveniently mounted in position of use soas to occupy a minimum of space. The motor operates with a minimumamount of noise and requires a minimum 1 of attention.

By relatively simple modification, the motor drive assembly may beadapted as a hang-on regulator to connect to the usual handle stem ofmanual regulators presently in use. This enables manual regulators to beconverted quickly and conveniently to an electric motor drivenregulator.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of thereversible motor drive assembly connected to a gear sector having aswinging window actuating arm, particularly adapted for actuating a rearquarter window panel of an automobile to and from closed position, themounting plate for connecting the assembly to the vehicle body beingomitted;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the motor driveassembly showing the electric motor, gearing, spring clutch device and aportion of the mounting plate;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spring clutchassembly and associated parts;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the spring clutch parts and associatedmembers shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the motor driveassembly above described adapted for use as a hang-on regulator toenable the assembly to be applied to the handle stern of a manualregulator thereby to convert it to a power operated regulator;

FIGURE 6 is a composite view in perspective showing the adaptor drivemember and the actuator which is connected to it as illustrated inFIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded, somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showingthe hang-on motor drive assembly, illustrating the manner of connectingit to a cross arm regulator connected to a vertically moveable windowpanel.

Description of the preferred embodimen Referring to particularly,FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a sheet metal dished housing 10 whichhas a pair of generally circular contiguous portions 10a and 10b,adjacent to which there is a flat depressed area 11 which extends aboutboth of the circular portions of the housing, but predominantly in theregion of the circular portion 10b. Within the housing portion 10a andsuitably fixed thereto is a permanent magnet 12 in the form of a fiatring forming part of a reversible electric motor. Concentric of thepermanent magnet 12 in the housing portion 10a is a countersunk portion13 through which extends a bearing pin 14, one end of which is fixed tothe countersunk portion, as by riveting. Upon the bearing pin 14 rotatesa metal hub plates 15 and adhesively fixed to the underface of the hubplate 15 is a fiat circular disk-type armature plate 16. The armatureplate 16 is extremely thin and may be of the order of of an inch inthickness. It is described in detail in co-pending application, Ser. No.288,152 filed June 17, 1963, and owned by the assignee of thisinvention. The theory of operation of the motor is described in detailin the above mentioned application and the general theory of operationis well understood by those skilled in the electrical motor art. Thearmature 16 comprises a disk formed from a plurality of layers of copperconductor segments and insulation means and in the preferred embodimenteach conductor segment has a substantially identical pattern and eachconductor segment in each layer is identical. The ends of the segmentsin the different layers are connected together to form a continuous wavewinding. Portions of the conductor segments on one outer face of thearmature also serve as commutator bars, such disktype armature beingpreferred because of its relative high torgue output. Rigid with the hubplate 15 and molded thereto to form an integral assembly is a concentricgear toothed pinion 17 which may be made of nylon or glassfiberreinforced nylon. Spaced slightly below the disk armature plate 16 is acentrally apertured steel backing plate 18. Depending from the rim ofthe depressed housing area 11 and extending around the same is a flange19, the outer edge of the steel backing plate 18 abutting the flange 19throughout a substantial portion of its periphery.

At one side of the pinion 17 and formed in the steel backing plate 18-,is a pair of holes 20 (only one appearing on FIGURE 2. but the generallocation of them being indicated on FIGURE 1). In each hole is a sleeve21 in which armature engaging brushes 22 are slidable. Electric currentis supplied to the brushes through leads 24 which extend through arubber grommet 25. For mounting the brush sleeves 21 is a socketedretainer plate 220 and at one end thereof is a rubber block 22b whichbears against the backing plate 18. The brush retainer 220 and therubber block 22b bear against a housing cover plate 26 which has anupwardly flanged edge portion 27 and a generally flat laterallyextending rim 28, the edge of which abuts against the housing flange 19.The lower end of the bearing pin 14 is socketed in the adjacent portionof the cover plate 26.

Interposed between the rim portions of the cover plate 26 and thebacking plate 18 is a rubber sealing ring 29. Complimentary embossedcontact ridges on the cover plate 26 and backing plate 18 are indicatedat 30 and 31 respectively. At the opposite end of the cover plate 26 theridge 30 abuts a ridge 32 on the housing for confining the adjacentportion of the sealing ring 2-9. The cover plate 26 and the housing aresecured together by a series of tabs 30a constituting extensions of theflange 19, which are bent over against the adjacent flange portion ofthe cover plate 26.

A relatively large spur gear 33, preferably of a phenolic material orother suitable plastic, has its teeth meshing with those of the pinion'17 and rotates freely upon an enlarged circular bearing portion 34,forming a part of a rigid bearing pin 35, the opposite end of whichprojects outwardly beyond the face of the housing portion 10b. Arrangedabout the bearing pin 35 is a spring clutch assembly 36 which consistsof a flanged cup-shaped sheet metal housing 37, the flange of whichoverlaps the face of the housing portion 10b and is secured thereto byscrews 38. The screws 38 also clamp in place a metal backed rubbersealing disk 39 which provides a liquid tight seal with the springclutch assembly 36.

In the spring clutch assembly 36 and disposed within the cup housing 37,is a driver member 40 which has a central sleeve 42 to rotate upon thebearing pin 35. Projecting outwardly from the sleeve 42 is a pair ofoppositely spaced driving lugs 43 which project into holes 44 in thespur gear 32 on opposite sides of the bearing portion 34. Thus, rotationof the gear 33 transmits rotation to the driver member 40 through thelugs 43. The driver member 40 has a cylindrical wall 45 which is brokenby an opening 46. Between the cylindrical wall 45 and the inner wall ofthe cup housing 37 is a helical spring 47, the ends of which areinturned to engage opposite edges of the opening 46, as shown in FIGURE4. 'Extending somewhat freely into the space 46 so as to have slightlost motion therein, is a lug 50 of a driven member 51. The drivenmember 51 has a sleeve body 52 to fit over and rotate upon the bearingpin 35 and integral with the outer end portion of the driven member 51is a pinion 53 which has toothed engagement with a gear sector of theregulator as will hereinafter appear.

In the operation of the motor drive assembly, the reversible electricmotor through its pinion 17 drives the large gear 33 which through thelugs 43 imparts rotation in one direction or the other to the drivermember 40 of the spring clutch assembly. The direction of rotation issuch as to cause through the inturned end 49 the helical spring 47 to beslightly wound up and contracted away from the walls of the cup housing37 to afford free rotation and through engagement with the lug 50 impartrotation to the driven member 51 and its pinion 53. When the motor isidle, slight opposite or retrograde movement of the driven member 51 byengagement with the inturned end 48 of the coil spring, impartsexpanding or unwinding movement to the :coil spring causing itfrictionally to engage the walls of the cup housing 37 and thus, blockretrograde movement of the pinion 53. Consequently, no retrograde orreverse movement is imparted to the motor driven gear 33. Additionally,by preventing retrograde movement of the drive pinion 53, the regulatorarm which actuates the window panel is held against further movement,thus ensuring that the window panel is retained in its position ofadjustment.

The motor drive assembly is secured to a mounting plate, a portion ofwhich is shown at 54, by screws 58 (only one of which is shown), themounting plate being suitably secured to the automobile body to supportthe mechanism in the desired position of use. The mounting plate has anembossed portion 55, which is apertured to receive the outer end portionof the pin 35, and retains the pinion 53 in the desired position. Theterminal portion of the embossed portion 55 bears against a gear sector56, the teeth of which mesh with those of the pinion 53. An upwardlyembossed portion 57 of the mounting plate portion 54 engages theunderside of the gear sector 56 to ensure its proper position relativeto the pinion 53. The gear sector 56 has a pivot pin 59 which issuitably supported by the mounting plate and is fixed to the lower endof a regulator arm 60 for window actuation. Encircling the pivot pin 59is a spiral counterbalance spring 60', one end of which is anchored tothe pin and the opposite end of which is hooked over a tab 62 whichforms a part of the mounting plate, the arrangement being such that whenthe window panel is lowered, the spiral spring is wound up to assist inmoving the window panel in the opposite direction.

On the outer end of the regulator arm 60 is a button 63 shiftable in ahorizontal guide channel 64 in a retainer plate 65 which depends from achannel member 66 embracing the edge portion of a glass window panel 67.In this instance, the window panel 67 constitutes a rear quarter windowfor an automobile and is moved to and from open position, as is wellunderstood by those skilled in this art.

FIGURES 5 to 7 illustrate an adaptation of the motor drive assemblyabove described for use as which is called a hang-on regulator. This isfor use on vehicles presently equipped with a hand operated windowregulator to adapt such regulator for motor operation. For this purposethe usual crank handle and the escutcheon are removed and the motordrive assembly is applied to the handle stem. Thereafter, the windowpanel can be shifted by the simple manipulation of a switch for causingthe motor to rotate in one direction or the other for opening or closingthe window, depending upon the actuation of the usual control switch.Such arrangement is particularly useful in enabling the driver of theautomobile to have the switches for the several Iwin'riows easilyaccessible and to enable the windows to be moved without the necessityof the driver moving or assuming an awkward position to operate thewindows.

The motor drive assembly above described, is employed in this connectionwith certain changes to enable it to be applied to the regulator handlestem. On FIG- URE 5, the parts in common with the structure abovedescribed have been given the same reference numbers and in this figure,the spring clutch assembly above described, except for the flanged cuphousing 37, is replaced by a cylindrical adaptor drive member 68, whichhas a nice rotating fit within the cup housing 37. The drive member 68has an outer Wall and a parallel inner wall, the inner wall having acentral hole around which is a cylindrical row of splines 69. At thelower end on the outer side of the inner wall is a cylindrical row ofsplines 70 to receive a sheet metal actuator which is provided with aflat body 71 having a central hole surrounded by a cylindrical row ofsplines 72. The splines 72 of the actuator fit the splines 70 of thedrive member 68 for securing the actuator rigidly in place. The splines72 are upset as indicated at 73, so that in effect, the actuator is arigid part of the ldrive member 68. The actuator 71 has a pair ofoppositely arranged lugs 74, which extend into the holes 44 of the motordriven spur gear 33. Thus, the lugs 74 correspond to the lugs 43 abovedescribed and consequently, the rotation of the spur gear 33 by theelectric motor causes rotation of the adaptor drive member 68 in onedirection or the other, through the connection between the lugs 74 andthe gear 33.

75 represents the regulator handle stem of the usual manual regulator,such handle stem at its outer end portion provided with a cylindricalrow of splines 76, which when used as a manual regulator, receive thecrank handle. As above mentioned, in this connection, the crank handleas well as the usual escutcheon, are removed and the drive assemblyherein described is applied to the handle stem so that instead of thehandle stem being rotated manually, it is rotated in one direction orthe other by the reversible electric motor through the gearing abovedescribed. As shown, the metal backed rubber sealing disk39 is employedin this connection forengagement with the outer face of the adaptordrive member 68.

To provide a bearing about which the spur gear 33 can rotate, a bearingmember 77 fits the central hole in the gear. The bearing member 77 isprovided with a laterally extending flange or washer portion 78 againstwhich the adjacent portion of the outer face of the gear bears. Theother side of the washer part 78 beans against the inner face of thecover plate 2 6, a portion of the bearing member extending through thecover plate 26 and being riveted or upset, as indicated at 79. Formed inthe inner face of the bearing member 177, is a cup or depression 80 toaccommodate different lengths of handle stems. If desired, the assemblymay be enclosed by a decorative cover 81 which completely covers theassembly and is secured by screws to the vehicle body.

The assembly of the hang-on regulator unit is shown on FIGURE 7 in which82 represents the reversible motor drive assembly incorporating thefeatures described in connection with FIGURES 5 and 6, except for thedecorative cover :plate 81. It will be observed that the handle stem 75forms a part of the regulator mechanism and is directly connected to apart of the spring clutch assembly 83. The spring clutch assembly 83 inoperation is similar to the assembly 51 above described, but is of theusual construction well known in the art. Detailed description of thisspring clutch is not believed necessary. Suffice it to say, that thisspring clutch assembly enables the handle stem to be turned in eitherdirection to raise or lower the window panel 84. It prevents retrogrademovement of the pinion 85 which forms a part of the clutch assembly sothat the Window panel is retained in its adjusted position.

As shown, a mounting plate '86 is provided for the regulator and this isfixed in any suitable manner to the automobile body. A gear sector 87has a pivotal mounting 88 on the mounting plate and meshes with thepinion 85. Fixed to the gear sector 87 is an arm 89 of a cross armregulator, the other arm 90 of which is pivoted to the arm 89 centrallythereof. The lower end of the arm 90 has a button which travels in astationary horizontal guide channel 92. To the lower edge of the windowpanel 84 at opposite ends are channels 93 and 94 in which buttons on theends of the arms 89 and 90 respectively travel.

It should be noted that the motor drive assembly in connection withFIGURES 1 to 4 may be suitably connected to a cross arm regulatormechanism as will be well understood by those skilled in this art.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operationmay be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention,especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A self contained drive for window regulators comprising:

a relatively flat housing;

a reversible electric motor disposed generally at one end portion ofsaid housing, said motor including a flat permanent magnet ring fixed tosaid housing;

an armature disk adjacent said magnet ring;

a bearing pin secured to said housing and arranged 6 concentric of saidmagnet ring and said armature disk;

a steel backing plate adjacent said armature disk;

spring urged brushes extending through holes in said backing plate intoengagement with said armature disk;

leads for carrying electrical potential to said brushes from outsidesaid housing;

a plate fixed to said armature disk having a sleeve rotatable on saidbearing pin;

a toothed pinion on said sleeve for rotation therewith;

a relatively large gear having teeth meshing with said pinion;

a bearing member for said gear carried by said housa driven memberadjacent said bearing member having a pair of lugs arranged respectivelyon opposite sides of said bearing member, said gear having holes toreceive said lugs, thereby to impart rotation to said driven member fromsaid gear; and

output means associated with said driven means for operatively engaginga regulator part for actuating same.

2. A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1,in which said plate, sleeve and toothed pinion constitute an integralunit of plastic material.

3. -A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1in which said housing constitutes an open dished compartment, a coverclosing said compartment, and releasable means for securing the cover tothe compartment.

4. A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1comprising a plate support for said brushes bearing against said housingand said steel backing plate respectively, sockets on said plate toreceive said brushes, and coil springs in said sockets for urging saidbrushes against said armature disk.

5. A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said housing comprises a housing part having a generally flatwall, a fiat cover plate and in which the magnet ring, the armaturedisk, the steel backing plate and spur gear are disposed in closelyspaced parallel arrangement, thereby to provide a relatively thinassembly and occupy a minimum amount of space.

6. A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said bearing member for said spur gear comprises a cylindricalenlargement, a rigid connection between said enlargement and saidhousing, a bearing pin integral with said cylindrical enlargement, saiddriven member rotating on said bearing pm.

7. A self contained drive for window regulators as claimed in claim 1comprising a flanged cup having a central hole and into which saiddriven member extends, said driven member being cylindrical for bearingcontact with said cup, said driven member having a central openingadapted to receive the end of the hahdle stern of a manual regulatorthereby to provide a motor drive for such regulator, and means toprevent said cylindrical member from turning relative to such handlestem.

8. A self contained drive for wondow regulators as claimed in claim 7 inwhich a separate lug-carrying part is secured to said cylindrical drivenmember.

9. A self contained drive for window regulators comprising an elongaterelatively shallow enclosed housing, a flat disk-type reversibleelectric motor at one end portion of said housing along one facethereof, a pinion gear fixed to, and concentric with said motor andalong the opposite face of said housing, a relatively large spur gearalong said opposite housing face meshing with said pinion gear, andextending to the opposite end portion of said housing, an output piniongear projecting outside of said one face of said housing and disposedconcentrical- 3,273,410 9/ 1966 Pickles 74-8918 1y of said spur gear,and drive means from said spur 3,383,535 5/1968 Lohr 310268 gear to saidoutput pinion gear including a coil spring 3,374,372 3/ 1968 Tinder eta1 31083 clutch for preventing movement of said output pinion gear uponstopping of said electric motor. 5 FRED C. MATFERN, JR, PrimaryExaminer.

References Cited W. S. RATLIFF, JR., Assistant Examiner.-

UNITED STATES PATENTS s -c1 3,167,675 12/1962 Vindevogel 310268 3102683,235,248 2/1966 Golde 7489.18 10

